SALT LAKE CITY- The University Utah women's tennis team is ranked 50th in this season's first Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll, released Tuesday.

"It is great to be ranked in the top 50 in the preseason poll for the first time in almost 15 years," said head coach Mat Iandolo. "I think it shows the importance of how you finish the previous season then how you started. It also shows the level of respect our program has gained"

Utah finished the 2008 season ranked No. 54 after not being ranked in the preseason. The Utes last ranked in a preseason poll in the spring of 1996, coming in at No. 42.

Conference rivals TCU (25), UNLV (39), BYU (47)and New Mexico (49) are also ranked in the top 50.

The team will kick off the spring season at the Virginia Invitational January 17 in Charlottesville, Va.